See the latest expose from Erin Einhorn of the Daily News – the number of teachers in the “rubber room” have doubled in the past four years to 700 – and are now costing the system at least $65 million a year. (photo credit: Daily News.)Read the profiles of three teachers in this position, and see for yourself whether they should have been consigned to this limbo.
Many spend years without being charged with any specific misconduct. Indeed, the “average accused educator waits four months as investigators interview witnesses and decide whether to bring formal charges, then nine months for a hearing and six more for a decision.”
And: “Only 20 arbitrators have been jointly approved by the city and union to hear these cases, and they work just five days a month during the school year and two during summer vacation.
Between the 700 teachers sitting idly in the rubber room, and the 800 teachers in ATR, the Joel Klein and his cadre of management geniuses are spending at least $150 million to keep 1500 full-time educators idle. What a waste of money and manpower – particularly when so many schools continue to have class sizes of 30 or more.
